Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Money Laundering Banks; Predator Military Recruiters; Pervert Priests

Stuart Gulliver, the Chief Executive of the London-based international banking giant HSBC said: “We accept responsibility for our past mistakes. We have said we are profoundly sorry for them and we do so again… What happened in Mexico and the US is shameful, it’s embarrassing, it’s very painful for all of us in the firm…The HSBC of today is a fundamentally different organization from the one that made those mistakes.”

What was Mr. Gulliver apologizing for and was he sincere? His bank got caught laundering tons of cash for drug cartels and alleged terrorists. That is a crime.

Lanny Breuer, the Assistant Attorney General for the Department of Justice (DOJ) explained at a press conference, “HSBC is being held accountable for stunning failures of oversight – and worse – that led the bank to permit narcotics traffickers and others to launder hundreds of millions of dollars through HSBC subsidiaries… The record of dysfunction that prevailed at HSBC for many years was astonishing.”

South Texas sheriff to dissolve drug unit
McALLEN, Texas (AP) — A South Texas sheriff says he will dissolve a drug-fighting task force whose members — including the sheriff's son — are at the center of a federal corruption probe.
Hidalgo County Sheriff Lupe Trevino tells The McAllen Monitor (http://bit.ly/Sdv1ju ) that he plans to meet with command staff Monday to hear the results of an internal investigation. Then he'll disband the so-called Panama Unit.
Former Mission Police officer Jonathan Trevino, the sheriff's son, and two Hidalgo deputies who worked on the interagency unit were arrested in December on charges of possession with intent to distribute cocaine. Another Mission officer from another task force was also charged.

DWI arrest for Bexar deputy
A corporal with the Bexar County Sheriff's Office already on administrative leave for allegedly kicking out the windows of an arresting officer's patrol car has returned to jail — this time for an alleged drunken driving wreck in which police said they twice had to stun her with a Taser.
Susana Lisa Cervantes, 35, who has been a detention officer since March 2008, was booked Thursday night for driving while intoxicated, assault of a public servant causing bodily injury and retaliation.

Military recruiter charged in rape
In what may be the worst case of its kind, a Houston-area recruiter has been accused of multiple crimes, including rape, against 18 women who sought to join the military.
The Air Force said Friday that Tech. Sgt. Jaime Rodriguez committed rape, forcible sodomy and adultery while assigned to the Lake Jackson recruiting office from August 2008 to November 2011. He faces a hearing Tuesday in San Antonio and could get life in prison if the case goes to trial.
“It was brought to our attention in November 2011, and basically it was brought to the attention of one of the mothers who saw inappropriate texting over the phone,” Air Force Recruiting Service spokeswoman Christa D'Andrea said.
A 13-year veteran, Rodriguez is thought to have had sex with four women, one who was an applicant and another on active duty.
He also pursued relationships with 14 others via text messaging — in some cases sending nude photos of himself or asking the women for them.

Donovan: Hi there, I am stuck in a pair of handcuffs. I’m going to need help getting out before this becomes a medical emergency.

Dispatcher: What’s the problem?

Donovan: I’m stuck. In a pair. Of handcuffs.

Dispatcher: You’re stuck in a pair of handcuffs?

Donovan: Yes.

It’s not clear how Donovan ended up in handcuffs, aside from that he was “playing with them,” or why this constituted a medical emergency warranting police intervention, but the pastor has since taken a leave of absence. Kathie Sass, spokeswoman for the Diocese of Springfield, said that Donovan “came to the bishop before anyone was aware of the incident” and was granted a leave of absence sometime before Christmas.

About Me

I was born and raised in the South, and lived over 15 years in Louisiana, including Gretna (across the river from NOLA), Hammond, Baton Rouge and for a short time in New Iberia. My dad worked in the oil industry, including the offshore business.
I graduated from the University of Texas School of Law in 1980 and have been a trial lawyer for 34 years. I'm board certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization in practice in Personal injury Trial Law, Civil Trial Law, and Criminal Law. I am the only board certified criminal defense lawyer in Kerrvile. I serve clients throughout the Texas Hill Country. Visit my new law firm website www.richellison.com